Munruthel - Epoch Of Aquarius
This is not a new album by Blackened Folk effort from the Ukraine but a re-release out of 2006. The musical arrangements are smooth, melodic, and overall quite impressive. There are epic moments such as the Folk driven instrumental of the "Prologue" which sounds a bit like how an Eluveitie album would open up- mixed with symphonic sounds contrasted with battle. "The Raven's Croak" cements the based organization of Munruthel's sound: horn sections, backing keyboards, melodic riffs that hit hard but are actually pushed more into the background along with the harsh snarl of Black Metal. Other tracks like "Epoch Aquarius" focus less on the Black Metal sections, including a lot more keyboard work (singular rather than backing) and even tosses in some flute along with a healthy dose of clean vocals that sound like ICS Vortex before his departure from Dimmu Borgir. The first of many epics on the album, the title track keeps listeners gravitated with little effort.
Other highlights include the Heidevolk influenced "Echo Of Long Forgotten Battles" through storytelling along with backing samples of horse battles and the Burzum cover of "Tomhet." Shedding all the Black Metal influence that made this raw masterpiece so ambient, it stretches to twelve minutes of rather pleasant Folk influenced music more of a trance-like piece that is very mellow and a different approach especially for new listeners who might be hearing this album for the first time. These psychedelic elements may shun some listeners away who prefer the heavier style, but one could certainly say that Munruthel was pretty brilliant to strongly emphasize on the Folk elements of Burzum's work. True, it feels like listening to Mortiis' "Født til å Herske." It's very basic, something a child could probably peform, but an excellent deviation from the norm of what might be considered Munruthel's work. Overall, this re-release is a welcome addition to any Folk Metal fan's collection, as well as welcome relief for avid Munruthel fans that more music will be coming at a faster rate than usual (possibly).
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/v/KVQyiXAkUQs[/embed]
Other highlights include the Heidevolk influenced "Echo Of Long Forgotten Battles" through storytelling along with backing samples of horse battles and the Burzum cover of "Tomhet." Shedding all the Black Metal influence that made this raw masterpiece so ambient, it stretches to twelve minutes of rather pleasant Folk influenced music more of a trance-like piece that is very mellow and a different approach especially for new listeners who might be hearing this album for the first time. These psychedelic elements may shun some listeners away who prefer the heavier style, but one could certainly say that Munruthel was pretty brilliant to strongly emphasize on the Folk elements of Burzum's work. True, it feels like listening to Mortiis' "Født til å Herske." It's very basic, something a child could probably peform, but an excellent deviation from the norm of what might be considered Munruthel's work. Overall, this re-release is a welcome addition to any Folk Metal fan's collection, as well as welcome relief for avid Munruthel fans that more music will be coming at a faster rate than usual (possibly).
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/v/KVQyiXAkUQs[/embed]
- On The Verge Of The Worlds (prologue)
- The Raven Croak
- In Leaves' Whispers Or In Bursts Of The Thunder...
- Epoch Of Aquarius
- I Was Confided By Dawns...
- Echoe Of The Forgotten Battles
- On The Verge Of The Worlds (epilogue)
- Tomhet (cover Burzum)
Label: http://www.svarga.eu
Reviewer: Colin McNamara
Sep 5, 2012
Sep 5, 2012
Next review:
Merrimack - The Acausal Mass
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